High Street, Peebles

A topographical carte-de-visite showing a view of the High Street in Peebles, a small market town in the Scottish Borders.

The signage on two of the shops on the left may be read quite clearly. The first building is the premises of James Watson, a bookseller and stationer. Born at Marykirk in Kincardine, he appears on the 1871 census as a 28-year-old 'Bookseller' living with his wife Helen.

The more ramshackle building next to it belonged to William W. Brodlay. This is William Wallace Brodlay who appears on the 1871 census as a 33-year-old 'China Merchant' living in nearby Bridgegate with his wife Margaret and their four children. By 1881, the couple had seven children. William was now the 'Hotel Keeper' at the Cross Keys Hotel. Located on Northgate, it's still there today.

Photographed by George Washington Wilson of Aberdeen.